Playing Dad [Skylar]

[Lancaster]

This RP takes place on the 29th December 2014.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Elliot:
Elliot wasn’t very good at technology, period. He was a man who liked to live out in the real world, rather than to have his face buried in a laptop, or constantly checking his phone. Most of the time he didn’t know where his phone was, let alone whether he had any messages. And he was even worse with the Crownet. It was yet another failing that made him feel ashamed, or guilty, but it was a guilt that he would defend.
For all intents and purposes, he didn’t think he was a hard guy to find, even if he could be a **** to get a hold of, sometimes. He was never hiding. But he was lucky that he found out about Skylar and her mishap as soon as he did. Only a night after it happened, really, when it could have been a week. And there was that sigh of relief as quickly read through the posts – that she denied Doc the meeting, so that he could heal her. In Elliot’s opinion – the less anyone has to do with Doc, the better.
Elliot pulled his phone from his pocket – dirt still smudged into the crevices from his romp in the Hunting Grounds the week before – and dialled Skylar’s number. He was in the Den. There was no sign of her. He paced, while he waited for her to pick up.

Skylar:
I was happily camped out at Ric’s when my phone began to ring. I knew from the ringtone who it was and I had a fair idea what it was about. Grimacing just a little as I picked the thing up, I wondered what I’d get raked over the coals about first. There was a chance he was ringing to tell me off for setting off so many traps. Like that was my plan. It was that or he’d heard about me meeting Doc and was ringing to tell me off and ground me or something. That wasn’t going to go down well if that was the plan.
“Hey Ellie!”
I sing down the phone at him. I’m in a bit of pain but nothing unbearable. Ric was pretty good at what he did and my body seemed to take care of the rest.
“What’s up?”

Elliot:
When Skylar answered, it was with a light tone, as if nothing was wrong. As if she hadn’t been ripped to shreds by traps and monsters. And for a single second Elliot is silent – she was still so new, but she wasn’t cowering in a corner somewhere, absolutely horrified about what had befallen her. Elliot wouldn’t have held it against her. Oh yes, he was angry. He was angry about a lot of things, and she would probably hear it in his voice – Elliot wasn’t good at hiding these things, sometimes. But he wasn’t angry at Skylar.
“Where are you? Are you okay?” he asked, voice deep but laden with obvious concern.

Skylar:
I hear the concern in his tone and smile. He may not want to be called dad but he sure as hell acted like he was mine at times. It was this thought that leads me to tease him in my reply.
“I’m fine dad. Nothing a few days R&R won’t sort out. I’m at Ric’s. He cleaned me up and stitched my wounds and stuff. Man I was a mess. You wouldn’t even believe it.”
I stop there and let my words sink in. I had other things to say. To ask. To thank Ellie for. In fact I had a mental list to go through but since he seems worried I decide to let him get his words out first.

Elliot:
"I would believe it," Elliot said, ignoring the fact that she'd called him 'Dad'. Obvious sarcasm, or so he hoped. She said she was fine and Elliot should have left it at that, but he wouldn't. Because there was physically fine, and then there was mentally fine. Skylar was only referring to her physical state, and Elliot being Elliot, he was probably more concerned about her mental state. She was an Allurist like he was, and he knew how hard the transition was for him. How hard it still is, due to heightened emotions. Maybe she just likes this life better. He sat on the edge of the armchair and raked his fingers through his hair. "Are you really fine? I mean, not just physically. Are you really okay?"

Skylar:
I lay with the hem of my nightdress. I wasn’t dressed because I wasn’t going out and the idea of putting jeans on and laying about in them in this state didn’t appeal to me. I didn’t much care what Ric thought of my appearance. He’d seen me like this before and knew what state I was in.
“Ellie I’m fine. Honestly. You know I just get on with things. I mean yeah I’m in a bit of pain and discomfort, but aside from that I’m good.”
I drop my voice to a low whisper and hope to god that Ric isn’t listening in on my conversation.
“I’m with Ric. I’m five by five. He’s looking after me.”

Elliot:
"Maybe I'll have to meet this Ric properly to thank him," Elliot said, leaning back in the armchair. He stared down at his jeans, and started to pick lint from them. There wasn't much lint to pick, so he was just picking at the denim, distractedly. Of course, the hair that he'd previously pushed out of his face fell right back in it again. "Getting on with things is fine, so long as you're not bottling anything. Bottles have a knack for exploding in very bad ways," Elliot said. Skylar had said she was fine, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to make extra sure.

Skylar:
“Oh papa bear, you worried I’m gonna demand compensation or something?”
I laugh. I know he’s not thinking that but I need to keep things light. Apart from being my style, I already know how he can get and I really don’t want him worry about me. It was my own dumb fault and I’d paid for it.
“Honestly. I’m good. Yeah I could be better. Yes. I Feel stupid. But I’m healing. We heal. No big deal. Not really. And I’m laying low. Like a good girl.”
I glance up at Ric. I’m saying his name a lot and if things were reversed I’d definitely be listening in by now. Not that I care if he eavesdrops. I’m only hiding the fact we’re in a relationship from him. But, like I’d told Doc the night before, that was something I was sure he’d figure out in his own time.

Elliot:
Elliot rolled his eyes and sprawled out some more. He stopped picking at imaginary lint on his jeans, and instead stared up at the ceiling. The very high, vaulted ceiling. It is a rather gloomy place to spend one's days, especially given how little the place is actually used. It might be a bit lighter, a bit more bright, if there were more people around more often. He wanted to tell her that she didn't have to lay low, and to **** Doc's ******* advice, but he bit his tongue. It was probably for the best. He nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Okay. Okay, good," he said, narrowing his eyes at the roof as if it had offended him in some way.

Skylar:
“You know I need to thank you… for the guitar. It’s gorgeous. Really. What did I do to deserve that?”
I know he’s the generous sort. The fact that I’d bought him a gift for Christmas, probably made him feel like he had to reciprocate. Fact was, he’d probably bought me the guitar before I bought the t-shirt, but was waiting till after the commercial holiday to give it to me.

Elliot:
"You remember how we met, right? I gave you a dodgy guitar to use, and it ...well, you might consider yourself lucky. Because I will probably feel as if I need to make up for that. For...well, eternity. And it was Christmas. People give gifts at Christmas, don't they?" he explained. The guitar hadn't cost much, in the grand scheme of things. Elliot ran a music shop, which sold and refurbished instruments. Sometimes, instruments were abandoned, just like pets. Unwanted. Uncared for. Just waiting for someone to give them some tender love and care. And he knew that Skylar would take care of her instrument.

Skylar:
“If you think I could forget how we met Ellie you’re ******* crazy.”
I’d been about to say ‘you’re ******* crazier than your wife’ but I thought better of that and caught myself in time, so as not to insult Pi. She was growing on me and if I was lucky, I was growing on her.
“And yeah. I knew it was Christmas. Did you get the gift I sent you? The Bowie platinum record thingy. It was signed. There should have been an authentication certificate in there with it.”
I didn’t know Ellie’s life story. Not yet. But I knew he liked Bowie and when I found it online I knew I had to get it for him. I then correct my own thoughts. The t-shirt had been a random gift for being Ellie. But it was still possible he’d gotten the guitar back then. He seemed the sort to plan ahead, well as far as anyone could that was.

Elliot:
The guitar was pre-planned. The thing had been a wreck, and Elliot had had to fix it up - sand it back, re-paint it, re-fit the strings. To make it look as good as new. It wasn't a last minute gift that he had bought on a whim, simply because he thought he had to reciprocate. It just so happened the guitar was ready by Christmas time. And Elliot was generally averse to giving in to the commercialism of Christmas. Gifting something that was old and done up was different, in his opinion. "I did get that! Yeah, I hung it in the recording studio," he said. "Prime position, right in the middle of the wall," he added, grinning.

Skylar:
“Oh cool. And oh! You’ll never guess…”
I drop my voice to a whisper again.
“What Ric gave me. He gave me a cupboard… in his kitchen… He filled it with goodies too. How sweet is that?”
I clear my throat softly and wait to see what Ric will say. I haven’t really claimed Ric as my boyfriend. At least I hadn’t outright said it. I’d told them he was my ‘kinda, sorta, maybe, boyfriend’. I’d even told someone else we were dating and that I was waiting for Ric to figure that out, making myself sound like a stalker in the process too probably. I couldn’t help how I felt though. Or what I thought, knew even. I knew how dating worked. Ric didn’t.

Elliot:
Elliot laughed. It seemed like a kind of odd present for someone to get another person. But it was almost like clearing half the drawer space for someone to move in, right? That point in a relationship where space was freed up - not because that person was moving in, so much, but because they were there so often that it just seemed logical. Logical or not, there was a kind of romance to it. Not that Elliot had ever really had a conventional relationship like that. Even with Pi. He'd been her childe, first - he had always lived where she had, in a way. "Next think you know, you'll be moving in," Elliot said, teasingly.

Skylar:
“Well that kinda is the plan… ”
I wasn’t whispering when I said that. As good as vampire hearing is I highly doubt Ricky can hear what Elliot’s saying and if he can, I’m sure I’ll soon find out. Man what a ***** that would be, to have Ric figure out I like him because I’m telling someone else instead of him. As far as I was concerned, I’d told Ric in every way I possibly could… Without actually saying the words that is. I could go that route but I know he’ll just dismiss whatever I say. It’s much better to just show him and let him read into what we are on his own.
“I got a nice pair of earrings from Ric too. He made them. That’s nice right?”
I don’t hide this part of the conversation, as I’m sure Ric wouldn’t mind me telling Ellie this.
“Oh and we got a pair of glass phoenix’s for xmas from someone in Altaire. They’re pretty cute. I put them in the chamber.”

Elliot:
"Not from that ******* redhead, I hope?" Elliot asked. He'd be likely to smash the glass ornaments, if that were the case. "She swans around thinking I owe her the ******* world when I owe her nothing," he continued. He didn't want to be a controlling asshole, and so he never did put boundaries on who Skylar could hang out with and who she couldn't. But it irked him nonetheless. He kind of wished that he had some kind of skill at the forge - maybe he could have made Pi's ring, too, rather than the two of them going out and buying them, spending a fortune on them. "Earrings are nice," he said, this time his voice slightly calmer.

Skylar:
“Oh no. No. Someone in her family. I forget who. Constance? Sence? Damn it I can’t remember.”
I cover the mouth piece of the phone, look up at Ric and then ask him.
“Hey Ricky. Who gave us the glass Phoenix things?”
His reply is pretty much what I expect. First he tells me, “an Altaire” and looks at me like I’m planning some sort of conspiracy. Then he tells me who it was, using their nickname. It made keeping up at times pretty difficult. When I get my answer, and am ninety-five percent sure that I know who “Chatterbox” is, I remove my hand from the receiver and tell Ellie.
“Yeah it was Constance. Sence gave us candles but I put them in the bathroom. The one here. The Phoenix’s really don’t fit in with Ric’s décor. You can see them when you next swing by. They’re pretty cute. The woman made them herself. I think. Oh and we did like a present circle thing too. Everyone took a random gift to give to someone. Like a super-secret, secret santa, cos you had no idea who you were buying for. Ric picked something up for me to give. He’s good like that. Anyways I got given a first edition copy of The Velveteen Rabbit by… erm… Jamie. They’re a nice bunch. From what little I saw of them. Ric skipped out early.”

Elliot:
Elliot had no idea who Constance was. Nor anyone else that Skylar mentioned. A frown deepened over his brow. Not because of anything Skylar was saying – not that he disapproved of what she was doing. He was glad, really, that she had found some nice people, and he wasn’t going to judge them all due to the family they belonged to. That would be stupid. The frown, he supposed, was because he wished that d’Artois could go back to the way it was. They had been an active bunch. But everyone sort of … just… disappeared. Family gatherings weren’t really gatherings anymore, but a very small handful. Like when they’d put the tree together. There had only been four of them, in the end.
And Elliot had no idea how to bring them all back together again. And there were some, of course, that he didn’t want to bring back into the fold. Like Doc. Maybe it would just be a lost cause – until he accidentally killed more people, he supposed. He cleared his throat. “Well that’s good. That you had a good time,” he said.

Skylar:
“Oh I did.”
I decide not to tell Ellie about how we actually left the party, as it makes Ric sound like a dick. I mean what was I going to say, really? ‘Yeah I had a great time till Ric skipped out on me and left me carrying all the presents we’d been given.’ To his credit though, he hadn’t gone far. Just the lobby. He figured he’d given his signal or whatever. Still. I’d been expecting to leave the same way we came in; together.
“Erm… Ellie…”
My tone changes. I’m quite clearly about to drop a bomb of some kind and being who and what he is I’m sure he knows it too.
“I have something else to tell you but you have to promise not to lose your **** at me… okay? I mean it’s not that bad. Really. I just need you to not… you know… get PMSy on me.

Elliot:
Elliot leaned forward in his chair. His elbows went to his knees and while one hand still held the phone to his ear, the other was used to cradle his head. It was just another restless position, really, but to anyone watching it might look as if he were deep in a very, very important phone call. Or that he had been told someone had died. It was neither, really, but the tone in Skylar’s voice wasn’t at all reassuring.
“Whenever someone prefaces a piece of information with don’t get mad, it doesn’t really leave room for confidence,” Elliot mumbled. It was tempting to hang up the phone. To make up some excuse and end the conversation, then and there. But Elliot couldn’t make up excuses. He couldn’t lie. And on that same token, he made no promises. “What have you done?”

Skylar:
“Hey! I resent that. You mean what have I done besides get myself blown up, mauled and ****? Well. I was on my here and I kinda ran across someone in the lobby. But you don’t have to worry. Nothing happened. They started the conversation and well they offered to help stitch me up. Give me a shot of something for the pain. I said no. okay remember that part. It’s very important. I mean if I wasn’t coming to Ricky’s… I mean Ric’s… Then I’d of come to you. Even if that did piss Pi off.”
I was rambling. I knew it. He knew it. I was also stalling for time too before I totally pissed him off. I loved Ellie. More than I should do considering I’d only known the guy for a few months but still. He was my sire. My papa bear. I didn’t like disappointing him. I knew talking to Doc would piss him off and I’d done it anyways. Not to piss him off, but because I don’t like being told what to do and I like to make my mind up about things on my own. Well, most of the time. I didn’t so much mind when Ricky was being bossy. Which he could be, when he wanted to.
"So... Anyways... I... erm... I ran into Doc."

Elliot:
Elliot didn’t stop Skylar’s rambling. He could be patient when he wanted to be. He could have pointed out that the way she was acting only indicated that she had done something wrong that he might ‘get PMSy’ about. What other conclusion could Elliot draw, except that she had done something bad enough to think Elliot would get angry? So he just waited. He didn’t give in to the guilting. The emotional manipulation, reminding him that she had been mauled by traps in a place she should consider a safe place. He barely sighed his frustration when the name was mentioned.
Doc. Yet another person Elliot loathed. Were there only two of them? He thought so. The two people in the world he would actually kill and wouldn’t feel any goddamned remorse for it. Actually, he hated Doc far more than he hated Phoenix. There was something about the guy that just gave Elliot the creeps. Beyond that, the way he acted, and the things that he had done? Yeah, Elliot didn’t even want to hear about him. Still. Skylar had talked to him. Which wasn’t a grand **** up. Mainly, it was the same old concern that curled around his heart, rather than anger.
“You… and? You were bound to run into the guy sooner or later. What did you talk about?” He knew that he couldn't legitimately tell Skylar who she could and could not talk to. He couldn't get frustrated when she called him her 'Dad' and then turn around and act like one. So he kept his tone light.

Skylar:
I’m extremely happy when Ellie manages to keep his cool and even smile as I shuffle in the loveseat to get comfy again.
“Nothing much really. My injuries. You. The family. Ric. Powers. I don’t think he likes me very much truth be told. He called me selfish.”
I bite my own tongue as I say that and mentally facepalm. I didn’t have to tell him that. I should have left the subject well alone. If I was lucky Ellie would let it slide.
“I mean. He thinks my focus needs some re-direction because I’m not out looking after people or something.”

[Skylar]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Elliot:
It was too late, of course. She had said it, and as soon as she had, Elliot growled. Not a super animalist savage growl, but a low rumble in his throat. Displeasure. "Who the **** cares what he thinks? His opinion matters less than the opinion of pond scum. And pond scum can't think, so what does that tell you?" he said. Skylar had seemed unperturbed. She wasn't crying on Elliot's shoulder because some fucktard had insulted her. But he justified it nonetheless. "What people do you have to look after? He doesn't know you. What evidence does he have?" he was up on his feet again, now. Pacing. Again. "Don't believe a word he says, Skylar. He's a lying... savage, creepy ******* asshole," he said, clearly assuming Doc would only have bad things to say about Elliot himself.

Skylar:
I actually facepalm, which is more difficult with a phone in the hand I’d usually use for such things. I listen as Ellie as he explodes and thank god for the fact I don’t have to be there to feel the rage.
“He was going by things I said. I guess I didn’t paint a very good picture of myself. To be fair I was a little tipsy and in a bit of pain. But yeah. He doesn’t know me. So… He can think what he likes. Ellie don’t worry okay. I’m not stupid. I like me. A few harsh words from someone I’ve only just met isn’t going to hurt my feelings. Okay?”
I begin twirling a section of my hair around my finger as I speak. I’m not bored, I just don’t have much to keep my hands busy while on the phone.

Elliot:
Elliot relaxed again in his chair. The world was a free creature and things would happen that Elliot couldn’t control. Yes, he hated Doc, but nor could he really think of a reason why the guy would want to hurt Skylar. Unless he was somehow vindictive, and wanted to get to Elliot through his progeny. Which would just be childish. He supposed his anger came from a place of concern; he didn’t want Skylar harmed by association. And, selfishly of course, he didn’t want her to be swayed into Doc’s kind of mind-set. Didn’t want her thinking Tytonidae was a worthy cause that she ought to join.
But, Skylar was her own person and should be allowed to have her own opinions and make her own mistakes, so Elliot let it drop. He sighed as he sprawled. “I got it, yeah. Fine,” he said. “I’m assuming he only had bad things to say about me?”

Skylar:
“Erm…”
I actually have to pause to think on this one. I’m also a little surprised that Ellie let the subject drop so quickly but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, not when it came to this.
“I don’t remember him saying anything bad. And I think I’d of remembered that cos I would have been offended. Ain’t nothing wrong with you Ellie. You’re lovely. Like a genuine good guy. I kinda get the feeling Doc doesn’t like peaceful people. Which reminds me. He calls you E… or Mr. Peace and Love. I’m not sure if that last one’s meant as an insult or not. Oh and he said something about Pi cheating on you. Or him having her first or something. I didn’t really get the specifics. My memory’s a little fuzzy truth be told.”
Okay I’d wandered into another minefield perhaps but I did want to know what the story was between them, and hearing it from both side meant I had more chance of getting to the truth of what happened and why they really didn’t get along.

Elliot:
Skylar wouldn’t see it, but Elliot would school his voice and temper his reply even though his teeth were grinding, and his fingers were curled into a tight fist. These were not new discoveries. He was almost certain that Doc believed that every problem that Elliot had with him was due to the fact that he had slept with Pi first. Some of the problem was due to that, yes. To think of those creepy ******* hands all over his mostly-wife sent shudders down Elliot’s spine. He had to try to ignore it.
“Pi never cheated on me. She did sleep with Doc, before she turned him. It’s something he likes to rub in,” Elliot said, his tone moderated, even flat. He didn’t say anything about Doc’s nickname for him. That Doc could go ahead and continue to think he’s all peace and love. It would just be all the more satisfactory when Elliot has an excuse to sever that creepy head from that spindly body. No good in Skylar seeing that part of him.

Skylar:
“Yeah that kinda sucks I guess. But everyone has history Ellie. Don’t let it get to you. Pi practically broke my arm for hugging you and kissing your cheek, so… I think she really likes you. She obviously has no interest in Doc. Right?”
I was trying to smooth things over. Sure. But I was also right. When it came down to it, Pi had chosen Elliot. They were even married now, so that had to mean something.
“Oh… I just remembered. Congratulations. On getting married and all that. I’ll pretend I’m not pissed you didn’t’ invite me to the wedding though, so don’t worry.”
I change the subject to something I’m sure Ellie would prefer to talk about and hope he goes with it.

Elliot:
Skylar’s reassurances amused Elliot. Not because he didn’t appreciate them, but because they made him feel pathetic. He didn’t think that he was coming across as a moping sob seeking some kind reassurance. And the fact that she would reassure him that Pi ‘likes’ him. It sounded like high school. He nodded, even though Skylar couldn’t see it. And then scoffed, and laughed as she continued.
“There wasn’t a ceremony,” he said, wondering what Skylar had heard. “There were no ministers, no papers signed, no rituals,” he rumbled, still highly amused. Waiting for Skylar’s confusion. Confusing her on purpose.

Skylar:
I listen but I don’t understand. No minister? No ceremony? And what were rituals? I mean yeah I know about wicca and all that - kind of - so I’m guessing he’s talking about hand fasting or something. Though when I start to think about it, vampires were real so why not magic. I did have a magic piece of paper after all.
“How do you get married without a ceremony?”
I should probably already know the answer to this but I don’t. Maybe he’d told me before and I just hadn’t been listening. That was possible. I look over at Ric and get kind of distracted from my train of thought for a moment because he’s really cute when he’s working. He’s cute anyways but when he’s focused on something there’s just something about him. It’s not the same as watching him take down a creature but it was something, I just don’t know what the word for it is.

Elliot:
Elliot laughed. Again. Still. He swapped the phone from his left hand to his right, so he could admire the ring adorning his fingers. It was of an indestructible hue, heavy and cold, but warm with the sentiment it was imbued with. One shiny band, one matte. He never thought he would wear a ring on that finger. But there it was.
“Because there was no wedding. We’re weird,” he said, and then pulled in a breath. How to explain? “I wanted there to be some way for other people to know that she’s taken, just by looking. And she wanted the same thing. She already called me husband. And I already think of her as wife. So we went and bought the rings,” he said with a shrug, as if the shrug would explain everything, forgetting that Skylar could not see it.

Skylar:
Urgh. Vampires were weird. This wasn’t the first time I’d heard of this kind of thing. Nix and her guy are calling each other husband and wife to but aren’t married either. It makes absolutely no sense to me. The label’s pretty specific meaning wise, so it seems odd to have people... What’s the word… Abuse it? I fidget, my eyes still on Ric. I smile to myself as I realise we both have odd sires.
“Erm… Right… Well I’m just going to ask the obvious then… Why didn’t you… You know… Just get married? I mean wouldn’t that make more sense?”
I’m probably poking the bear again but enquiring minds want to know. Why not just do the deed? Why make it seem like you have and not just go through with it? Why give that impression if it’s wrong? Wasn’t that in itself a lie?

Elliot:
The answer was pretty obvious, really. At least according to Elliot. He didn’t skip a beat. “Well, a few reasons I suppose. I myself don’t believe in marriage, per se. Not the traditional way. I loathe any kind of organised religion so getting married in a church would be out of the question. And to elope, well, it’s just signing a bunch of papers, right? It’s a farce, set up by society for what ******* reason? To make insurance cheaper?” he asked, and shook his head. “Marriage like that is meaningless because it can be broken with the signing of a few more papers. Divorce is too easy. It’s…flimsy, at best,” he said.
“And then on the other hand, you have a vampiric marriage. Which involves a ritual, and a binding spell that lasts eternity and can never, ever be broken. You have no idea how many people jump into that kind of commitment and then realise they actually hate each other. But they’re stuck with that bond. Forever. Eternity. I’ve known Pi three years and we have… forever to live together. We’ll make that kind of commitment when we’re absolutely definitely sure,” he said.
At least, that was what he had assumed. He and Pi hadn’t actually really talked about it, but it was the impression he got. They were on the same page with most things. “Until then, we’ll wear the rings. It’s not really … it’s just to mark each other as taken.”

Skylar:
“You know that sounds archaic right? Marking each other as your property. There’s even less romance in that than signing a piece of paper Ellie. You vampires have twisted logic I swear.”
I don’t explain what I mean but I probably should. I figure if he cares to know he’ll ask. Till then it was pointless explaining my frustration with people of our kind who seemed to have no understanding or respect for what certain labels meant. Not that I really care for labels myself. Truth be told I was probably more annoyed at Ric and his lack of correct labelling than I was at Ellie. In some ways it was kind of sweet what he and Pi were doing for one another.

Elliot:
Elliot smiled. There was a hint of frustration in Skylar’s tone, but he didn’t rise to it. Nor could he really hope to make her understand. Even he didn’t really understand why he and Pi had done what they had done, except that they wanted something. They didn’t want what human marriage would have been, because it seemed wrong, somehow. But nor were they ready to commit to each other for eternity. Maybe they were both pessimistic in that way. But they were happy, the way they were, and Elliot didn’t care what anyone else thought.
“You vampires?” he asked, emphasising. He chuckled. “Careful there, Sky. You are one of us, now. Sooner or later your logic may become just as twisted. We’ve got cooties, so maybe keep your distance,” he said, tone light and verily amused.

Skylar:
“Haha. Very funny funny.”
I’m not annoyed, I’m teasing him in return.
“I’m pretty sure I caught whatever you had the night you forced your blood down my throat.”
I’d of poked my tongue out at him but he wouldn’t have seen it, what with not being in the room and all.
“Not that I’m complaining about that. I mean man. If you hadn’t done what you did, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
I’m half talking about being a supernatural being and half talking about being in Ric’s place. I can’t imagine Ric having giving me the time of day the night we met had I not been what I was. He’d of had no reason to talk to me. No reason to lure me to the abandoned pub in the quarantine zone to feed on me. I hadn’t had this lifelong but so far it surpassed my human one by a whole bunch. My current physical notwithstanding.

Elliot:
Elliot took the statement with a grain of salt. Given the context, it didn’t seem as if Skylar was trying to have a dig – she’d said she wasn’t complaining, though Elliot could have digressed and said she wouldn’t have died if hadn’t been for him, either. All he gave in response was a noncommittal grunt. Because, of course, Elliot couldn’t read Skylar’s mind, and he couldn’t tell that she was thinking about Ric.
“Right, you’re right. Icky cootie-filled blood swarming with all kinds of diseases. Maybe you’ll grow into a Big Friendly Giant, just like me. Like that potion from Alice in Wonderland,” he said idly, mumbling nonsense into the phone.

Skylar:
I laugh at Ellie. He could be a real goofball when he wanted to be. It was part of his charm.
“Yeah well as far as side effects go, coming back to life kinda rocks. And I think you’re mixing up two different stories there Ellie. The BFG was all about snozzcumbers or something. And I never remember which does which in Alice in Wonderland is it the drink or the cake that makes her normal size again?”
As far as conversations went, this wasn’t a bad one, even if it had taken a turn neither of them could have expected. Discussing children’s stories wasn’t something Sky had ever considered she’d be doing with Ellie.

Elliot:
Elliot narrowed his eyes at the ceiling as he thought about it. Truth be told, he'd never actually read the BFG. Alice in Wonderland was something he'd read sometime in his youth and he couldn't remember any of it. "Well it wouldn't be making you normal size, would it? But oversized. Too tall. Like an awkward giraffe with knobbly knees and always hitting your head on ****," he said. And even as he said it he slumped further down into the large armchair. Overly large. Because he needed it to be large, to be able to actually feel normal in it. "Snozzcumber? What the hell is a snozzcumber?"

Skylar:
“Snozzcumber is what the BFG eats.”
I only remember that because it sounds like snotcumber. The thing was supposed to taste like crap too, which kinda made sense to me.
“I think I’ll pass on the tall and lanky disease. You can keep that one papa bear. You can pull it off. Besides. I like my guys taller than me remember? How the hell am I gonna find a guy if I’m taller than like… everyone?”

Elliot:
"This is where I should pull out the Dad card, right? I should say I wish you were that tall, then, so that you don't bring any men home," he said with a goofy grin that she would not see. She was the one who pulled out the Papa Bear card. He thought he was actually being really funny. Most of the time his humour wasn't at all very funny. It was a goofy kind of funny that probably didn't appeal to most people.

Skylar:
“Oh definitely. You might want to add expand on that idea too. Like… You wish I were that tall so I don’t end up going home with any men, period.”
I laugh.
“Cos like only ruling out me bringing a guy home, doesn’t rule out me going back to theirs.”
I point this out because it’s amusing to me on more than one level. Yes. Originally I’d brought Ric back to mine, but now here I was sitting in his place. I mean really, Ellie could have pulled the whole ‘no random guys in my home’ thing. It was his place after all.
“You could just wish away my sex drive too while you were at it.”
This was one I currently wouldn’t object too. Being around Ric so much and not being able to fully be me was already beginning to crush my soul. The guy was hard work and he’d pretty much told me outright that he wasn’t worth the effort. I remember that for several reason, the main one being the fact that it was the first time a guy had ever admitted to me he wasn’t good in bed. Not that I was listening to Ric, he didn’t have a clue about dating and stuff, so I figure he just needs a little instruction as and when the time comes.

Elliot:
“Your sex drive, eh? If I were your father I’d be in denial, and would think that you never had one, and that such a thing never existed for you,” he said with a low chuckle. “Maybe I’d contact one of those ritualists and see if they could remove it completely, you know? Like removing your wisdom teeth. Or your tonsils. Gone! And you could devote yourself to… well not to God, ‘cause that would be all kinds of wrong. But to something more noble. Like… birds. Birds are fascinating,” he said, very clearly joking.
“But! I can’t deny you have a sex drive ‘cause I’ve been up to that apartment where you were staying with Dillon, and I saw the way you were dressed and how obviously driven he was by you so I can’t rightly deny that you’ve got one,” he said. Once he was on a roll, he could keep going.

Skylar:
“Shhh…”
I flush with colour and glance up at Ric again as I hope to ******* god he can’t hear what Ellie’s saying on the other end of the line.
“Now it’s my turn to be in denial. I have no idea what you are talking about. Nu uh. No way. Never happened. End of story.”
And it was too. That was the last time I’d had sex with Dillon and it was probably more than appropriate that it was uninspiring. I didn’t want to have to think about Dillon like that. I small shiver runs up my spine. My stupid body is so starved of affection that even the thought of getting it on with Dillon is appealing. Now my cheeks are really red and I know this cos I can feel them burning. I pull my hair around my face and shrink down on the sofa. I could have done without that reminder.

Elliot:
The laughter started as a low rumble in Elliot's throat, which slowly climbed into a genuine melodic song of amusement. That was the thing about talking to people on the phone. He couldn't read their emotions. It was a habit that he'd become far too accustomed to. He should try to block it out, but he can't. Or maybe deep down he wasn't willing to. It was kind of intrusive. But it was fascinating. He wanted to know what Skylar was feeling, but he could kind of tell from her voice. Kind of. "Yeeeah okay. Whatever you reckon," he said.

Skylar:
“Evil is what you are. Remind me next time I see you to spank you. Cos you deserve it I swear.”
My voice is low and I’m obviously grumbly about the whole Dillon thing. I really did have a tendency to act before thinking at tomes and he was a prime example of that.
“I’m gonna go now Ellie. Unless you need or want anything else?”
I don’t mind chatting with Ellie, but if we’re gonna go down this kind of road it’s probably best not to do it with Ric in the room. Not that he doesn’t know about me and Dillon, it’s just way too awkward to explain all round.

Elliot:
Elliot snorted. The word 'spank' uttered in the context of their conversation was probably not the best choice, what with all its different connotations. But Elliot didn't tease Skylar about it. Instead he just nodded a nod that she couldn't see and breathed away his laughter before he responded. "No. Nothing else. Just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Now that I know your humour seems to be in good nick, I can leave you in peace," he said, amusement colouring his tone. "Have a good night Sky, and try not to get yourself damaged anymore, okay?"

Skylar:
“Yes dad.”
I was going to forever tease him with that one.
“I’ll try and stay out of trouble. I can’t get into much here at least. Not with a chaperone and all.”
I laugh. Ric wasn’t exactly a chaperone but he would make sure I didn’t get into any trouble. Not that I could get into much trouble staying inside and all. About the only thing I really needed to trouble Ric for was food. The blood variety that was. It was the only thing I forgot to pick up before coming over.
“See you soon Ellie. Love ya.”